Heat waves bring some level of discomfort to nearly everyone. When excessive heat catches vulnerable populations off guard, that discomfort can advance to illness and even death. Public health officials in Minnesota are working to protect people in both rural and urban settings.

How do this year’s temperatures on the first day of summer compare to historical highs and lows? Compare your local conditions to these maps showing the warmest and coldest first days of summer for more than 4,000 U.S. locations.

Between the weekly forecast and a seasonal outlook—and often less accurate than both—sit “sub-seasonal” weather predictions. In this profile, atmospheric scientist Libby Barnes talks about her work leading a NOAA task force whose members are trying to overcome the special challenges of forecasting over the 2-week to 2-month horizon.